Changeable feature doll head



Feb. 23, 1954 L. M. G. QLIVIER CHANGEABLE FEATURE DOLL HEAD Filed July 19, 1950 \QQQQQW Inventor Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED i STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a dolls head and appertains particularly to one provided with changeable eyes.

An object of the invention is to provide a dolls head with a plurality of pairs of eyes of various colours and/or characteristics that may be readily selected by a child.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dolls head having two faces with a common eye-changing mechanism serving the eye-openings of both faces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified eye-changing device wherein the actuating shaft extends exteriorly of the doll-s head, in the area of the ear, and carries a manually operable wheel.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novel and attractive dolls head of the nature and for the purpose described that is characterized by improved and simplified con-- struction and combination of parts and being capable of manufacture at a reasonable price is thereby rendered commercially desirable.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects as shall become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

The invention will be best understood and can be more clearly described when reference is had to the drawings forming a part of this disclosure wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a dolls head;

Figure 2 is another vertical section, as on the stepped line 2-2 of Figure 1, with the eye-changing mechanism appearing in elevation;

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the series of eye-simulating decorations, carried by the drums of the eye-changing mechanism, opened out into strip form; and

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a modified form of the invention, wherein the eye-openings of a two-faced dolls head are served by a common eye-changing device.

The eye-changing mechanism heretofore employed in dolls heads has been too expensive and unduly complicated, quickly wearing out or becoming damaged under the rough and careless handling accorded it by a child. The instant in- 2 vention is of sturdy and simplified construction, more suitable for the purpose for which it is intended and assuring a longer useful life.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the dolls head i for purposes of illustration is of the usual hollow, molded pulp variety and has the face 2 thereof provided with a spaced pair of naturally positioned eye openings 3. Transversely of the head is a horizontal shaft 4, rotatably mounted in opposite sides thereof and at substantially the level of or a little below the lower edge of the eye openings 3 and in the area of the ear. Exterior of the head each end of the shaft has a knurled wheel or other manually operable member that is preferably disguised as an ear ornament 5. These members 5 serve also to prevent the displacement of the shaft lengthwise.

Secured to and rotatable with the shaft 4 are a pair of wheels or drums 6, spaced equally with the eye openings 3, and the respective circumferences of which are designed to register with the said openings; said drums bearing on their relatively wide and if desired slightly arced peripheries, a series or sequence of circumferentially spaced decorations 1 representing the whites and iris of eyes and arranged in matching pairs on the spaced drums, these pairs of matching eye-simulating decorations i being designed to be brought successively into registry with the eye openings 3 and to be selectively exposed to View therethrough. The matching pairs of iris may be of any desired colours and position and additionally I desire to includeone pair of the decorations to simulate the eyes closed in sleep, as la, and another with diagonal stripes for the iris as at lb.

Eight pairs of eye-like decorations are shown in the schematic view of the drum circumferences seen in Figure 3 and to releasably hold the drums in proper rotative positions with these decorations in registry with the eye openings, a substantially octagonal wheel 8 is fastened on the shaft within the head, its flattened circumferential surfaces being engageable by a leaf spring 5: on a pin it in a pocket II that may be molded integral with the head. One of the wheels circumferential surfaces may have an arcuate portion as seen at 8a to afiord an unstable holding by the spring 5! so that the wheel and its shaft will oscillate slightly, such portion being engaged by the holding spring when the diagonal stripe iris lb are opposite the eye openings thus providing an entertaining eye performance.

A modified dolls head it is shown in Figure 4 that is provided with two, oppositely facing and preferably contrasting faces [6; one of which may be a smilin face 16a and the other a crying face 16b for examp1e-or one may be of fair complexion and the other dark and so on. Each has a pair of eye openings I! but they have common ears I8 and a Wig [9 that may be attached to the head at the top center as by a pivot 20. Thus by swinging the wig around half wayI the desired face is exposed andthe' otheronefcovered. Rantin transversely of this two-faced head, mid-way of the faces 16a and lfib is the eye changing rotatable shaft 2| with a near earregistering ornament 22 on each aexpesea end. This shaft carries a pair of changeable eye drums 23, as already describ'edfor the'p'fevioifs form and a shaft-holding or 'rotation steadying device 24. The drums 23 in this modified form however are of such size and position that, with the shaft 21 located mid-way of the faces IBa 16b, 'tli-ey register with and serve both -set's tife'yebpriiri'g T.

Altern" tively, the pivot 251 may serve als the "ea fo'rth'e eye-changingmechanism, de'd dow nwar below-the level o'f-the ta, and carrying 'on its lowe'r 6 with spaced' eye siinulating ecorations o'n "its circumference ahd "design-ed like theformerones'to*register with theeyeopem fries.

ifieattractivenes's; to=a*chil-d,--of the twofa'ced l affecting "the lioice 0f ver-y different faces hat it i'n'effecttwo dolL -will-be apparent, and-the unen' i-ngfascinationofthe eye 'selection esteem-W111 b eepretietee especial- 4 1. A hollow dolls head having two oppositely facing faces, a spaced pair of eye openings in each face, a common pair of ears serving both faces, a wig mounted on the head at top center by a pivot and rotatable thereon to serve one face and cover the other, and changeable eye mechanism in said head comprising a transverse rotatable shaft mid-way of the two faces, the ends of which project ..in the areas offlsaid ears, manually ena ga'geabie fishaft rotatin imember 's on 'ssaid shaft ends simulating ear ornaments and a pair of drums on said shaft with eye-simulating decorations on the circumferences thereof registrable lwithithe eye-ropenings of both faces.

2. In combination with an attractive dolls head 'i'iavin g a'spaced pair of eye openings and normallyepositioned ears, changeable eye mechanism housed in said head and comprising a horizoh'taltransverse shaft whose ends are rotatably supported in opposite sides of said head, an in- :conspi'cuous emanually rengageaole wheel+1ike member "simulating an '"earring on each a end of said shaft exteriorveof: said headin the=areaiofrthe ear, "such members also preventing longitudinal disp'lacementr'of said haftyandsahpair'i'of spaced drums securedton and 'rotatabiewith zsaid'zsh'aft the peripheries of which bear circumferentially spaced eyie-a'simuiatirrg matching a decorations and register with l'thez-respectiveceye openingstintsaid hea d, a" rotationstoppingcdevice; for "said. :shaft comprising cooperating meanszone'saidrshaft-aanci headi reieasabiy engageabiei inaas many iiifierent positiong; as there areeye-simiilating i decorations onisaid fluims in:one:.of1 whichipositions the shaft is "a fffil'ded zsome slight osci1'1ation,;-said cooperatin means consistingeof ai-spring member mounted in ssaidi'headanda a \wh'eel liketamemher, i with J'fiattenedecircumferential portions: on said -shaft,Fohe of'imicirscircunriferential;.portions being sliglitly arcuate.

LGUISE! G.-16-LI-VIER.

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